as in shiver
an instance of shaking involuntarily with fear or cold
a shudder ran through him as he stepped outside into the snow
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
huddled in the basement, we shuddered with fear as we heard the approaching tornado
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shudder
Corinna Da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Ana’s community refers to with shudders as La Migra.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 May 2025
One shudders to think how Ross, whom Grant divorced in 1929, and who died in 1951, would have reacted to so echoing a lack.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shudder
Noun
As the low drone grew louder, individual voices peeled off with microtonal shudders and ululations, and foghorn-like trombone blasts wormed their way through the vocal texture.
—Corinna Da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Ana’s community refers to with shudders as La Migra.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
Trump’s early-morning social-media missive caused markets to shudder.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 May 2025
One shudders to think how Ross, whom Grant divorced in 1929, and who died in 1951, would have reacted to so echoing a lack.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shudder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shudder
Noun
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The females’ eggs, fertilized by the males’ shivers, will hatch over the next few months.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Feb. 2025
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Merely the thought of any potential Chinese aggression in Taiwan sends shivers down the spines of industry, market, and government officials, and an outright attack would put the worldwide economy in a tailspin.—
Karl Freund,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And beside them, Milford, Weymouth and St. John’s of Shrewsbury also shook off their sub-20 seeding to advance at least once in an all-time showing of parity.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
21 June 2025
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The tragedy shook the small Ohio town — and stunned viewers who remembered the Stockdale family's 2008 appearance on ABC's Wife Swap.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
21 June 2025
Noun
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Furman is one of a kind: a trans, devoutly Jewish former rabbinical student who’s written a book about Lou Reed and sings folk-punk songs in a mercurial tremble.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
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Valeria leaves guard duties to Ellen, a grandmother with a constant tremble in her hands from her MS.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Then, of course, there were the jerking motions and the cognitive decline.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
5 May 2025
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More often than not, the jerking movements to get free only bring the meal into contact with more points of sticky contact.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Those emotional generators are apparent on the title track, a minimal hymn of salvation wrapped in Springsteen’s quivering voice.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
24 June 2025
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My son swayed gently between my legs, still wearing last night’s jammies, azure eyes trained on the flutist’s quivering embouchure.—
Ashlea Halpern,
AFAR Media,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Teaching me how a microwave vibrates water molecules to heat my dinner is less helpful than telling me what buttons to press and which containers are microwave-safe.—
Judd Kessler,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2025
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The males climb up trees and produce their shrill songs en masse, using muscles to vibrate a rigid part of their exoskeletons called tymbals.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shudder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shudder. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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